He was born in Scotland, land of low clouds, damp socks and countless sheep. Having studied at Glasgow, Cambridge, and Oxford,
he only managed to pick up one degree (but is the proud owner of two unfinished PhD theses).

Sorely unequipped to earn a living, when the time came to do so he had little option but to turn to that
last refuge of rogues and scoundrels: management consulting. He ended up a partner in one of the leading
international audit and consulting groups, before setting off on his own and creating a small consultancy specialised in risk management.

He moved to Paris over 20 years ago and has never shown the slightest inclination to leave.